Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The Struggle is Real...Even at Christmas time

Here
we are in the season of joy, family, fun, thankfulness, gifts, happiness,
festivities, everyone sharing stories of their fabulous life, their beautiful
children, their _________.Fill in the
blank.

And
there you are with a hole in your heart, nothing to feel especially grateful
for; empty arms, empty wombs, sadness that permeates your very core, your heart
is aching. Facing the biggest battle, loss, struggle, pain in your life, yet knowing
this is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration.

How
do you feel the ache so deep that at times makes it hard to even breathe?

How
do you smile and enjoy the most blessed season of all?

Let
me begin by telling you that I only share what I know to be true. I know what I
have had to do in my own times of difficulty and struggle. One of those times
being right now.

In
order to carry on we must look to the One who has the answers. We may never
know the answers to the painful whys of life, but we can trust the One who
does. We may never understand why life has to be so painfully difficult at
times, and some of those pat answers about God having His reasons do little to
comfort. Yet our hope for healing and carrying on comes through a full
confidence and trust in His plan, His ways. We can commit to Him our brokenness,
our pain and anguish and allow Him to heal those places that feel so raw and
painful.

One
of my greatest sources of help from the Word of God is Philippians 4:6-8
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things. What you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be
with you.”

When I find my thoughts drifting to the difficult situations, the heartache,
the struggles, I do my best to begin to shift, change my channel and remember
these words. Think about what I know to be true, what is worthy of praise, what
is good, what is pure. In that spirit I will be kicking out the negativity, the
thoughts about the things I cannot control, the parts of life that bring great
anguish.

I
am a work in progress and do not always succeed at “changing my channel” before
the thoughts and agonies of life begin their negative effects on me. But I have
learned to watch for the signs, to be alert and remember WHO is in charge. And
you know what, if God is in charge then I am off the hook.

I pray that whatever it is you are struggling with you can find your way to remembering who is in charge and allow Him to pour peace into your heart as we focus on the One true reason for the season. That you will indeed find JOY knowing that you have the greatest thing of all to be thankful for….Jesus Christ.

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About Me

It is my desire and passion to encourage and inspire women by sharing that which I know, what I have learned on my personal journey. Ultimately that they will know the peace and freedom that God has for them. I have written a curriculum that I offer as a 7-week series twice a year to help women overcome their struggles as I have done. With God as our guide we can live an effective life, the one He has planned and purposed for us.